We need to improve the performance of New Zealand houses. There is a view that better-informed consumers could help by demanding better-performing houses. This report examines the information currently available to consumers about house building. It finds there is a vast amount of information available but it is widely scattered. It also finds a considerable body of work – over 30 projects – that have researched the knowledge, experiences and preferences of New Zealand consumers on house building and allied topics.
The report recommends that existing information be brought together into an accessible ‘one-stop shop’, with a particular focus on improvements that can be made at no or little additional cost. Information aimed at changing consumer behaviour should be presented in terms of health, comfort and aesthetics rather than in technical terms such as energy efficiency or performance.